Known operators of the Bronco:
Colombia
Germany (six OV-10B and 18 OV-10B(Z) )
Indonesia (16 OV-10Fs)
Korea
Morocco (6 OV-10 As)
Philippines
Thailand (32 OV-10Cs)
United States
* US Air Force
* US Marine Corps
* US Navy)
Venezuela (16 OV-10Es)

While the Bronco was retired from the USMC in 1995, and from the USAF/USN well before that, several countries do still operate in in their militaries as of early 2007.

The Philippine Air Force flies Broncos on search-and-rescue and COIN operations in various parts of the Philippines. These are operated by the 15th Strike Wing based in Sangley Point, Cavite. Recent modifications by the PhAF included upgrades in the engine and propeller (now sporting a 4-bladed propeller), and flight controls and sensors.

Indonesia and Thailand still fly COIN operations similar to the U.S. Navy’s Vietnam missions with their Broncos, but have retrofitted .50-calibre (12.7 mm) Browning heavy machine guns in place of the light 7.62 mm (.30 calibre) machine guns.

Venezuela and Morocco also still operate it, but I believe Germany retired theirs quite some time ago… as did Korea?

Not an Intruder, a Prowler.

The EA-6B has its own official name, to note its changed role and the 4-man crew (ok, usually 3, but it has the seats).

All of the models named Intruder were two-man versions… A-6A/B/C/E attack birds, KA-6D tankers, and EA-6A jamming aircraft.

The last was a USMC development for the Vietnam war, and its success led the USN to develop the Prowler.

When I was at NAS Whidbey Island in late 1982 for my school on the A-6E FLIR system, the USMC reserve squadron there still had their EA-6As.

EA-6A:
http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/museums/fl/naskwfl/148618.htm

So he has Eddie arriving in Heathrow several hours after the official time of his fatal car crash (but before he died in hospital)?

Yes, its Wiki-waki: “On the night of Saturday April 16, 1960, at about 11:50 p.m. while on tour in the United Kingdom, Cochran was fatally injured in a traffic accident in a taxi (a Ford Consul, [reg. no. RBO 869], not as widely quoted a London Hackney carriage) travelling through Chippenham, Wiltshire, England on the A4. He was 21. The taxi crashed into a lamp post on Rowden Hill. There was no other car involved. A plaque erected there shows the actual spot. He was taken to St. Martin’s Hospital, Bath, but died at 4:10 p.m. the following day. Songwriter Sharon Sheeley (Cochran’s fiancée) and singer Gene Vincent survived the crash.”

It also says he had been at a gig in London the “night before”… whether this was the night before the crash, or the night before he died, is unclear from the article.

The article also links to his death certificate… which confirms his death on the 17th of April in St Martin’s Hospital, Bath.
http://members.cox.net/gpugh1/Documents/Death%20Cert.jpg
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cochran

One comment on the subject of “useless” “saccharin” “platitudes” “from total strangers”.

I view every human life as valuable, and the loss of any of them is a very real tragedy… one which does indeed effect me regardless of whether I knew the person or not.

If I choose to offer condolences to a total stranger on the death of their friend/family member, it is exactly because I felt moved to do so… NOT because I am in the habit of spouting empty words (if I say something I mean it).

For those who feel that only those condolences from those who knew the deceased have any meaning, I sorrow at the shallowness of your humanity… that it can only relate to associates and cannot produce genuine feelings for strangers.

I have had close relatives die, and even the words “I didn’t know him, but I sorrow for your loss” had a healing effect… especially coming from a stranger, as it showed that the good side of humanity was still functioning… and was ready to help in any way it could.

Even if that help was not needed, knowing it was available was a great comfort.

So I will offer my sorrow to those who remain… and ignore those who fail to understand that it is indeed real and meaningful.

Solomon’s choice

If I may make a suggestion as to how to prevent this bickering in the future, and still allow for “Freedom of Speech”?

When the Nimrod crashed recently, PPRuNe had two threads on the subject…

One was for condolences and respects ONLY, and the other was for comments, questions, and speculation.

That way those who wished to hold off could ignore the second thread, and those who felt a need to “talk it out” could do so without offending the first group.

Perhaps this thread could be split similarly?

Originally Posted by Scooter :I don’t know how they could back out now………..

With the greatest of ease.:(

Remember the 1960s?

The Royal Navy’s new carrier, CVA-01 had been laid down, and was actually being built… when the entire programme was cancelled.

The building contract for CVF hasn’t even been formally approved, much less signed… material ordered… “keel laying ceremony” held… etc, all of which had been done with CVA-01!

There is a large difference between a missile-carrying interceptor (like the F-6D and the Vigilante proposals) and an air-superiority fighter (like the F-4, F-14, and planned F-111B).

The first is intended to never get into a maneuvering fight with another fighter, but to stand off and do ALL of its fighting from long range. This requires NO special airframe design.

The second is intended to get into maneuvering fights with other fighters regularly, and need an airframe stressed for the mission. Yes, the Navy did invision the F-111B as being able to do close-quarters A-A combat if needed, it was just not expected to do more than survive there.

And yes, the F-4 was also designed for A-G missions… as was the F-111B.

Nikon FM (stands for “full manual”? the light meter is the only thing that uses the battery, film speed [35mm], aperture, exposure time, and focus are all selected by the operator), since 1982.

Whot’s digital photography look like?